Which Cold Steel folder has the strongest Tri-Ad Lock

N

noviomagus

Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
575
I had seen a video where Andrew Demko was hanging 345 (?) lbs from the handle of a Hold out III .

How is the lock strength in the other mini's (I like those 3 inch sized folders for EDC a lot) , the mini Recon 1 , the mini AK-47, the medium voyager..

Is there much difference in locking strength between them?
 
If you can hang two grown-ups from the handle, how much difference can it make? The lock is about the last thing that will break on any Cold Steel folder with a Tri-Ad lock.
 
Yes Phil, they are just awesome.
I like the ones where there is some kind of finger protection the most,the Hold out III I find it a little tricky.
The G10 is grippy though.

Do you also live in the Netherlands ?
 
Hi!
I'm glad you enjoyed Andrew's testing.
Check out our latest testing videos HERE
You'll see weight hang tests on pretty much all of our knives
Enjoy! :)
 
noviomagus said:
Yes Phil, they are just awesome.
I like the ones where there is some kind of finger protection the most,the Hold out III I find it a little tricky.
The G10 is grippy though.

Do you also live in the Netherlands ?
Click to expand...
I currently live in Spain. Knives are more expensive here but customs less alert to stuff imported from the States. :D
 
Cold Steel Knives said:
Hi!
I'm glad you enjoyed Andrew's testing.
Check out our latest testing videos HERE
You'll see weight hang tests on pretty much all of our knives
Enjoy! :)
Click to expand...
Yes, the testing Andrew does is awesome. Very impressive what the relative small Tri Ad Lock folders can withstand.
They are a great companion to carry.
I also appreciate the excellent handle ergonomics a lot.
The grippy G10.
All great .

The link is now under my favourites :).


philwar said:
I currently live in Spain. Knives are more expensive here but customs less alert to stuff imported from the States. :D
Click to expand...
Yes customs..
Here sometimes an order gets stopped for weeks because there is a little knife that doesn't look like a knife. Some tiny blade..
:eek:
Then again.
Some laws I will never understand.
:foot:
 
noviomagus said:
Yes customs..
Here sometimes an order gets stopped for weeks because there is a little knife that doesn't look like a knife. Some tiny blade..
:eek:
Then again.
Some laws I will never understand.
:foot:
Click to expand...

I don't think it's because it's a knife. It's because they want to make sure they tax you to the max. Same happens with lots of other stuff.
 
If you visit the "csknives" youtube channel you'll see a whole selection of playlists featuring strength tests going back to the mid nineties
the most recent series of tests are in the "Apocalypse Proof" playlist
thanks!
 
Cold Steel Knives said:
If you visit the "csknives" youtube channel you'll see a whole selection of playlists featuring strength tests going back to the mid nineties
the most recent series of tests are in the "Apocalypse Proof" playlist
thanks!
Click to expand...

Much appreciated. :thumbup:
 
It would come down to the strongest handle material. So my guess would be the Mackinac and Lone Star hunters
 
ursamajor said:
It would come down to the strongest handle material. So my guess would be the Mackinac and Lone Star hunters
Click to expand...
Those two are interesting options.
I didn't know they had the Tri-Ad Lock as well.
Very nice classic look, but with more durable materials.
Some like real stag, I prefer modern made materials for handles.
 
ursamajor said:
It would come down to the strongest handle material. So my guess would be the Mackinac and Lone Star hunters
Click to expand...
Those two are interesting options(I still haven't got those in my collection).
I didn't know they had the Tri-Ad Lock as well.
Very nice classic look, but with more durable materials.
Some like real stag, I prefer man/modern-made materials for handles.
 
ursamajor said:
It would come down to the strongest handle material. So my guess would be the Mackinac and Lone Star hunters
Click to expand...

I take solace in that. I have a Mack and it is a little tank. But not long after I got it the Code 4 was introduced. Then I realized that the C4 was basically a Mack done up in an aluminum body. It kind of pizzed me a bit as I would have prefered the C4. Ya, I know, get a C4. :D, and I just might yet. But I admit that It felt like a model upgrade/revision, and that I got the old version. Oh well, I still like the weighty little bugger...Did I mention the weight ? :p
 
The weight is definitely not an unimportant feature.Given the fact these are pocket knives.

But thinking about the Code4.
I have held that one once. Though beautifuly made, it felt rather slick and thin.
Thinking about that,the Mackinac and Lone Hunter might not have that grippy feeling either..

I think I stick to the rough G10 grip.Which gives me a tight grip.
Though the grip on the grivory/zytel of my Voyager isn't too bad either .
 
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There are many videos where people use the Recon 1 and Mini Recon 1 as throwing knives. There is a BladeHQ video where they shoot at one with a rifle. These are very tough. I have the Mini and it is a great knife as to design and strength. I am waiting for the CTS-XHP steel before I buy another one. The Code4 or Recon 1 in CTS-XHP will be hard to beat.
 
I've carried a mini AK47 for years as one of five of my routine carry EDC knives. Its on me most days anymore due to being so reliable and trustworthy. With a 2.75" blade its legal most everywhere but the biggest most restrictive cities and its out in a flash due to that thumb plate opener. The lock on this little knife is far superior to any of those in the much bigger classes in other lock types being sold. I find it interesting that so many knife enthusiasts secretly have these and others like the Lawman series and don't talk much about it on forums because they secretly also wish it was on other brands using this lock! Brands they'd rather brag about. I think the Mini AK lines are very similar to the Hinderer XM 18 mini which I also own. Both have similar things going on and both are great little knives but look at the cost diff and no deny that the lock is better on the Triad overall for both strength and reliability.

The truth is that due to the Triad lock alone all the new Cold Steel knives using that lock hold their own with even the best bad arse knives being sold today.
I believe in a pinch that these particular folders would function to more extreme levels of life saving performance than even their best most expensive competitor which quite frankly is the Extreme Ratio Fulcrum I and II folders at many hundreds of dollars difference in cost to get one! Heck man just get one of each Triad and you probably still haven't spent that.

One thing the Triad could do on a combat type folder for the industry is put a lock on the lock rocker arm like the Extreme Ratio for function but using different device they can patent of their own. Add that and then you have simply one of the best of the best ever made. As is tho, who can argue for the money really?
 
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